Electrical ? for the gurus

[jeepers29]

I ahve a question for those that know electrical and batteries. I know none of that. I have a Noco battery tender mounted to the Glady that is plugged in when ever it is not being driven. I would like to put my Iceco frig in the back full time, plugged into my "solar" battery, which would be plugged into the bed outlet. Will this work, keeping frig cold, solar battery charged and glady batteries topped off? I am thinking yes but don't want to try it and kill my batteries. Thanks for any input.

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[PuddleJumper]

I ahve a question for those that know electrical and batteries. I know none of that. I have a Noco battery tender mounted to the Glady that is plugged in when ever it is not being driven. I would like to put my Iceco frig in the back full time, plugged into my "solar" battery, which would be plugged into the bed outlet. Will this work, keeping frig cold, solar battery charged and glady batteries topped off? I am thinking yes but don't want to try it and kill my batteries. Thanks for any input.

What type of NOCO charger? Should be minimal load maintaining a fridge. Is there a permanent solar panel on your truck as well? is it parked outside?

 

[jeepers29]

What type of NOCO charger? Should be minimal load maintaining a fridge. Is there a permanent solar panel on your truck as well? is it parked outside?

It is the noco 2 battery charger/ maintainer. No solor but I have it plugged in where it sleeps in the barn

 

[PuddleJumper]

It is the noco 2 battery charger/ maintainer. No solor but I have it plugged in where it sleeps in the barn

biggest issue I see is that the NOCO u got is a max output of 30w and alot of Iceco fridges run between 20-50 watts. Assuming the fridge as eco mode and will pull 15w that doesn't leave alot left to charge the batteries. especially since a battery tender isn't design to constant discharge as a power source. It "could" work. but I don't recommend it. Maybe get a beefier charger/tender.

 

[chorky]

It is the noco 2 battery charger/ maintainer. No solor but I have it plugged in where it sleeps in the barn

That won't be enough. You need a higher output charger/maintainer otherwise it will constantly be cycling which isn't good for anything.

But lots more information here is needed. What is your 'solar' battery? What do you mean by it is plugged into the bed outlet? The 120v outlet?? That outlet is ONLY powered when the engine is running. Your 'solar' battery will not charge off of the 120v bed outlet unless the engine is running so, assuming your 'solar' battery is a power pack like goal zero then it needs another source for charging.

We need specific details of your system to understand it in order to provide optimum suggestions. Detailed pictures would also help.

 

[ChrisNLA]

biggest issue I see is that the NOCO u got is a max output of 30w and alot of Iceco fridges run between 20-50 watts. Assuming the fridge as eco mode and will pull 15w that doesn't leave alot left to charge the batteries. especially since a battery tender isn't design to constant discharge as a power source. It "could" work. but I don't recommend it. Maybe get a beefier charger/tender.

The fridge doesn't pull that power constantly though. The compressor cycles like any other fridge.

Regardless - I agree, I would run a higher output charger.

 

[ChrisNLA]

May not be the solution you are looking for, but it worked for my use case:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/iceco-apl55-bed-install.72273/

Takes all of the load off the truck when it's at home - no excess wear on the battery.

 

[PuddleJumper]

The fridge doesn't pull that power constantly though. The compressor cycles like any other fridge.

Regardless - I agree, I would run a higher output charger.

Your right it doesn't, but its in an exposed bed in a barn. Its got to fight that barn getting hot during the day, especially with spring around the corner. One compressor kick to hard and that NOCO with stop charging everything and wont come back without a human to reset it.

 

[jeepers29]

That won't be enough. You need a higher output charger/maintainer otherwise it will constantly be cycling which isn't good for anything.

But lots more information here is needed. What is your 'solar' battery? What do you mean by it is plugged into the bed outlet? The 120v outlet?? That outlet is ONLY powered when the engine is running. Your 'solar' battery will not charge off of the 120v bed outlet unless the engine is running so, assuming your 'solar' battery is a power pack like goal zero then it needs another source for charging.

We need specific details of your system to understand it in order to provide optimum suggestions. Detailed pictures would also help.

I forgot that the bed 120 outlet is only on when truck is running. Onto a new solution. Thanks for your input.

 

[chorky]

since you are running an extension cord to the truck already for the battery tender, you could have a splitter at the end, run another 20' cord to plug the power pack in in the bed. That way it will function just as if it is in the house or the engine is running. It's an extra step but probably the simplest solution.

 

[jeepers29]

since you are running an extension cord to the truck already for the battery tender, you could have a splitter at the end, run another 20' cord to plug the power pack in in the bed. That way it will function just as if it is in the house or the engine is running. It's an extra step but probably the simplest solution.

I am thinking this is the way I will go. Thanks for all your input.

 

[ross neill]

May not be the solution you are looking for, but it worked for my use case:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/iceco-apl55-bed-install.72273/

Takes all of the load off the truck when it's at home - no excess wear on the battery.

If you have power just plug solar and maintainer to the barn power

 

[jeepers29]

If you have power just plug solar and maintainer to the barn power

This is what I will end up doing. Thanks everyone who replied.

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